Review of Indisperse - The Reckoning

One thing I find with local bands that are relatively young (under 5 years) to the scene is that starting with an album length first release is probably not the way to go - stick to an EP with 6 tracks max, lads!  That aside, however, isn't to say that there's a lack of songwriting ability or talent evident on this release from local Maitland Thrash quartet.

From the start of the album's opener 'The Fallen Ones' we (the listener) gets thrown into a whole playing field of Indisperce's take on new Australian thrash metal. Right until the album's conclusion with 'Execration' here is a band that is  musically right on parr with their peer's that have spent years in the metal scene.

At times though you often wonder where the singer is going starting with dirty rock vocals (much like the bastard child of Metallica's James Hetfield and Monster Magnet's Dave Wyndorf?) and then backed up by the weak death metal screams of the first and the last 3 tracks. This isn't the focus though as you get further into listening to 'The Reckoning' you can't help but admire the brilliant twin guitar attack inherent in every song accompanied by the brilliant drumming and signature double kicks you come to expect.

A release that definitely has its hits and misses but in terms of whether it sinks or swims for me? It definitely swims. Though, I think it could have been summed down to 3-6 tracks, 'Catalyst', 'Predisposed' and 'Execration' are definitely what stand out and are what you want to skip to - to get a feel for the album. When listening to these, few young local metal bands can compare especially with the flawless solos that stick to the vibe of each track without overpowering them.

The musicianship here is brilliant, the songs are tight, but a re-recorded effort with the vocals sounding stronger will see these Maitland lads taken on a newer aussie-fied metal will see them supporting the legends of Thrash Metal in no time at all...